Paris will host this season's Champions League Final after Uefa stripped Russia of the right to host the showpiece fixture.
The 2021/22 final of Europe's elite club competition was initially due to take place at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg on May 28.
However, Uefa came under enormous pressure to switch the venue following Russia's escalation of the Ukraine crisis this week, which resulted in a full-scale invasion of the country on Thursday.
European football's governing body called an extraordinary meeting of their Executive Committee for Friday morning, where it was confirmed that the Champions League Final would be moved from St. Petersburg - the home city of Russian president Vladimir Putin - to the Stade de France in Paris.
It will be the first time the French capital has hosted the final since 2006, when Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona at the Stade de France.
In a statement, Uefa said: “The UEFA executive committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021-22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from St Petersburg to Stade de France in St Denis.
“The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday May 28 at 2100 CET.
“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic president Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis.
“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement.”
Uefa also confirmed following Friday’s Executive Committee meeting that clubs from Russia and Ukraine involved in Uefa competitions plus both national teams would play at neutral venues until further notice.
Spartak Moscow are the only team from either nation still involved in this season’s European competition, taking part in the draw for the last-16 of the Europa League in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday morning.
The 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League final will move from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
— UEFA (@UEFA) February 25, 2022
The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.
Full statement: ⬇️
Zenit St Petersburg were eliminated from the Europa League by Real Betis in Spain on Thursday evening. There is no team from either country still remaining in the 2021/22 Champions League.
Russia were due to host Poland in Moscow in the World Cup qualifying play-offs on March 24, while their latest Nations League campaign begins with trips to Albania and Israel in June before a home meeting with Iceland.
The winners of the Russia-Poland tie will face the victor of Czech Republic vs Sweden for a place in the winter World Cup in Qatar as part of Fifa’s new format, but the national associations from Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden released a joint statement on Thursday confirming that they would no longer consider travelling to Russia as they called on Fifa and Uefa to present alternative options.
Ukraine are scheduled to face Scotland in the World Cup play-offs next month, with the winner of that tie then facing either Wales or Austria.
They travel to the Republic of Ireland and Scotland in the Nations League in June, with a home match against Armenia to follow.
The Ukrainian Premier League was due to resume this weekend after its annual winter break, but has now been suspended after martial law was imposed in the country.
